Haman wins OT decision

195-pound lone title-winner for fourth-place Minot

February 17, 2013

FARGO - It wasn't done in the swift manner that put Dayne Haman in Saturday's 195-pound title match, but Minot's surging senior was only interested in the result.

Haman, who came up with an uber-quick three pins in the first three rounds of the Class A state wrestling tournament at the Fargodome, went the distance this time.

And then some.

Article Photos

Ryan Collingwood/MDNMinot's Dayne Haman (top) puts the finishing moves on Bismarck High's Drew Kary in the championship round of the Class A state tournament at the Fargodome on Saturday.

He found himself in an old-fashioned donnybrook with Bismarck High's Drew Kary before being pushed into overtime, but a takedown in the extra session lifted Haman to a 3-1 win.

Haman was the sole champion for Minot, which secured a fourth-place trophy in the team category. All seven of the Magicians placed in the top eight.

"The whole match we just stuck to the game plan," Haman said. "(Kary) is a solid wrestler and he wasn't going to give me anything cheap. I had to work for everything I had."

Haman (46-6), the top-seeded wrestler in his weight bracket, earned his first point via an escape from the third-seeded Kary (38-10). Kary soon came up with an escape of his own to knot the contest and ultimately force overtime.

In the sudden-death portion, Kary had Haman in a standing single-leg that eventually went to the ground. Haman was able to gut out the hold from behind and force his away around Kary before coming up with the deciding takedown.

Haman then propped himself up, pointed to Minot's elated contingent before running into the arms of MHS coach Nolan Spooner.

"I had to fight (the single-leg)," Haman said. "When he sat me on my butt I knew I had to scoot around him, get on top and take control."

Spooner was impressed with the match, moreso Haman's resolve.

"They were very-well matched," Spooner said. " Dayne just found a way to win. He just kept scrambling and scrambling. No better way to do it than overtime."

After placing seventh a year ago, Haman relished the opportunity to end his prep career on the highest note.